CIQS Tebedu needs more funds to match Entikong – State Immigration director

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Hamfatullah Syawal Hamdan

KUCHING: The Tebedu Customs, Immigration, Quarantine and Security (CIQS) Complex in Serian needs to be further developed to be on par with the development of neighbouring Entikong in West Kalimantan.

State Immigration Department director Ken Leben said the complex only received an allocation of RM10 million under the 11th Malaysia Plan, which was insufficient to develop the complex.

“However, we believe that the allocation will be increased again because the allocation of RM10 million is only enough to develop several blocks (at the complex).

“If we want to be on par with Entikong (West Kalimantan) in terms of development, this will cost more than RM10 million but under the 11th Malaysia Plan, only RM10 million had been approved,” he told reporters when met after the state-level Malaysia Immigration Day 2017 which was officiated by State Federal Secretary Dato Mansor Man here yesterday.

Ken added that the development of CIQS Tebedu will transform it into a first-class infrastructure that will further boost the local economy.

Apart from CIQS Tebedu, he said the government was also currently upgrading the new Semuja Detention Depot which costs around RM47 million.

“Another project that is being developed is the Ba Kelalan Control Post which costs around RM20 million.”

Ken also pointed out that CIQS Sungai Tujuh and CIQS Tedung have been set up with a special lane for Brunei-Malaysia Frequent Travelling Programme (BMFTP) holders to reduce traffic congestion.

“These are all in line with the government’s efforts to continuously improve the department’s delivery system through the upgrading of infrastructure facilities.”

Also present was state Immigration Department deputy director Hamfatullah Syawal Hamdan.